A little snow didn’t stop Richmond County Sheriff Gino Brantley from appointing or promoting approximately 70 deputies to new positions Friday.
In a morning ceremony, Brantley appointed 32 and promoted 38 to new positions with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, offering words of support as his new team begins work keeping peace in the Garden City.
“I’m really appreciative and thankful that you all decided to come back to Richmond County and take on this challenge that we have before us,” said Brantley, who unseated Sheriff Richard Roundtree last year.
“I just want to say thank you for coming back to Richmond County to make this agency one of the better agencies in the state again,” Brantley said.
The longtime deputy and marshal promised change and brought dozens of deputies back to the department from other agencies. He’s secured higher starting pay for deputies of $56,000 and for jailers of $51,000.
The promotions and appointments Friday included 25 personnel in the criminal investigations division, which targets violent crime, narcotics and gangs. Another 14 were in special operations, which includes traffic, explosives, K9 and other operations.
The promotions and appointments included nine personnel hoped to help turn things around at the troubled Charles B. Webster Detention Center, where disrepair and disorder plagued Roundtree. Another 10 were promoted or appointed Friday in management services, and eight in field operations.
Brantley told the personnel when he began his campaign, he looked for ways to improve the sheriff’s office.
‘When I started this journey, I looked at everything that I thought the sheriff’s office wasn’t doing in a manner that it should have been done, and that started with being actively engaged in the community,” Brantley said. “Being approachable, and being accessible. People want to know that they can rely on you when they need you.”
Toward that end, Brantley urged the deputies to engage appropriately with the public.
“So when the community asks for us, we’re responsive, and when we respond, we respond in a proper manner and we’re doing everything we can to make whatever situation that they have easier,” Brantley said. “And sometimes you have to do more listening than talking.”
Brantley said he himself had learned to listen, among other skills, during his many years in law enforcement.
“There’s always a better way, a different way to do things,” he said. “I don’t always feel like I have all the answers, but I’ve aligned myself with everyone on this command staff. I’ve aligned myself with all the experience in this room. There’s no way we shouldn’t be able to accomplish what we set out to accomplish.
“So thank you again. I know you’re going to go out and do a good job. I know you’re going to give your best and at the end of the day, we’re going to make sure we’re getting it right,” he said.
One of dozens who attended the morning ceremony, Commissioner Francine Scott said she was reassured by Brantley’s commitment to community involvement.
“I think it’s moving in the right direction. This is a big division of the new sheriff and I think public safety is going to really be a priority. I think we’ll see more community involvement with our local sheriff’s department,” Scott said.
